<p>Hi guys. I have recently been admitted to Rutgers Newark and Penn State Altoona. I am having a tough time trying to choose between the two and I am looking for advice on where to accept my offers. </p>
<p>I was denied from Rutgers NB but that doesn't phase me because I didn't really like how the entire location of the school is set up with the sub campuses and locations. However, if I do not like Newark I would not have a problem moving to NB after a semester or a year (depending on their transfer circumstances).</p>
<p>I was denied from Penn State University Park even including their summer session. This is where I really wanted to go but if I truly want to attend this campus I would have to do their 2+2 plan and move up to State College/University Park after two years. I am extremely attracted to their atmosphere and campus but I still have not visited Altoona/University park yet. I will be soon though. (Silly Me.)</p>
<p>My current thoughts about my major is Biology. I plan on going on to Optometry school and both universities are top notch in this area. I am also from NJ so I would pay in state tuition but my family is financially stable to pay for an OOS college.</p>
<p>Anybody is welcome to post because I am really undecided on these offers and need a different perspective on things from other students. Please & Thank you!</p>
<p>Sorry I can’t offer too much advice but I would advise you to visit both campuses. You sound like everything about either college is fine (financial, etc.), but which atmosphere do you like more? You may feel much more at home at one of the campuses. That could easily be the deciding factor of where you want to go.</p>
<p>Also, I was curious as to what your stats are (if you don’t mind sharing). I am also looking at Penn State and Rutgers.</p>
<p>I have a 3.2 GPA with a 1700 SAT. My GPA is what killed me. Penn State UP was definitively a reach and I thought I could make Rutgers NB. Rutgers NB / Penn State UP only really care about GPA/SAT because of the massive amounts of applicants they have. The essay for Rutgers is also heavily weighted.</p>
<p>I think Altoona and Behrend are thought of as to two best branch campuses of Penn State. There have been some discussions on the forum about Altoona, here is a link to one and you might find others if you search <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/penn-state-university-park/1181338-off-campus-housing.html?highlight=altoona[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/penn-state-university-park/1181338-off-campus-housing.html?highlight=altoona</a></p>
<p>One thing I recall from this discussion is there is not too much on campus housing so a lot of students live in apartments off campus. CC member greenbutton knows alot about Penn State Altoona so you could PM her</p>
<p>Wow, thanks pamom59. That thread help answer some of the running questions in my head. I’ve been hearing words that the housing at Altoona is already full and has been full since a few weeks ago… Can you clarify this? Will your daughter be attending Altoona and if so, why? Also, if you don’t mind can you post her stats?</p>
<p>Actually my D is not attending Altoona. I suspect that Altoona housing is full but you could call the housing office to find out. They should be able to direct you to the resources for finding off campus housing. [url=<a href=“Home Page | LiveOn”>Home Page | LiveOn]Altoona[/url</a>]</p>
<p>I would expect that Altoona housing is just about full if not gone, but you never know. There is very little on-campus housing there (although what is there is perfectly nice dorm housing) and not tons of off campus housing either. Altoona campus is where many local students who are denied UP go; the theory is that you always get deferred from UP to your branch campus if you don’t have high enough GPA/SAT scores, but since UP is the local branch, those students go to 'toona. So there are lots of central PA natives, but other students as well. You would be eligible for the 2+2 program of course, and could move to UP when ready. Altoona has great faculty and is a very supportive environment for students who need that extra help. That’s a big advantage over Rutgers, but it’s a little place, in a small city. Are you ready for that? Ready for the long drives and lousy winter weather? One cafeteria? One social center? </p>
<p>I happen to have MA from Rutgers NB and lived in Piscataway for about 9 years (worked in East Brunswick). Rutgers advantages? Less debt – a huge consideration for you if you have optometry school ahead of you. More opportunities for connecting with your field. Better profile for grad school. Large teaching hospitals around you. Living in the area you are likely to return to. The sub-campus thing is immaterial and don’t let that distract you.</p>
<p>Greenbutton you are absolutely amazing. You are so much better than my guidance counselor.</p>
<p>The debt part - My uncle lives in East Strousburg and my counselor said that I could be classified as a instate resident for PA if I said I now reside here. I would then be charged instate tuition. I was weary on this. Clarify?</p>
<p>Altoona only has one cafeteria? Woah. I thought there was a cafeteria around every residence hall. I had no idea that it was THAT small. I know 5,000 kids isn’t a lot but only one cafeteria / social center. That’s a shocker. </p>
<p>I do know that these are two very good options but I have been increasingly distracted by Penn State because it IS Penn State. Also, I do feel like I am underestimating Altoona but I am not sure if 2 years at Altoona to get to University Park / State College is worth it. University Park is big bad and heavy distraction over Rutgers NB.</p>
<p>So your guidance counselor suggests you misrepresent your residency in order to qualify for in-state tuition? Don’t have a good response to that. I imagine you would not be the first OOS student to try that, so I assume PSU (like every big school) has some way to question/verify. Particularly since your application probably already said you were OOS?</p>
<p>Try google-earth’g the Altoona campus and walk around it. See what you think. But you haven’t even visited UP? What if you don’t do well at 'toona and then can’t get into UP? What then? Which school is your best chance for success, not just which one sounds neat? (oops, sorry, talking like a mom…)</p>
<p>PSU will only consider you as in-state if you have lived in PA for a year for other than educational purposes. If you’ve sent them your transcript from an out-of-state school, they know you haven’t been living in PA. Also, the thousands of out-of-state students that live in apartments in State College would be claiming in-state residency, too.<br>
Yeah, I wouldn’t trust the guidance counselor’s advice on this.</p>
<p>I will be visiting next weekend. I would have done so awhile ago except my entire family wants to see both Altoona/UP.</p>
<p>And don’t worry about me NOT doing well at Altoona because I won’t ever let that happen. Same goes for Rutgers. </p>
<p>When it comes to where I will be most successful, I vision myself being successful at both schools. </p>
<p>And no, please do talk like a mom. It help’s from another parent’s perspective. It really does. My parent’s are the very traditional Pakistani parents who only know the IVY schools and then Rutgers lol. </p>
<p>Can you describe your experiences/interactions at Rutgers?</p>
<p>bump, interested in hearing more.</p>